Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s (GCTS) Boston campus, called the Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME) provides ministerial training for urban pastors and church leaders in Boston and throughout the United States. Gordon-Conwell’s CUME officially opened with 30 students in September 1976 at Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Currently located at its own campus facility a block from the original Roxbury location, Gordon-Conwell CUME serves more than 400 students coming from 39 denominations. With 21 distinct nationalities represented in CUME’s programs, classes are also taught in Spanish, French Creole and Portuguese, with occasional classes in American Sign Language.

The Center for Urban Ministerial Education’s main objective encompasses the greater mission of GCTS and is particularly focused to help equip urban pastors and church leaders for more effective ministry and outreach in urban communities locally and throughout the world. CUME’s academic program is contextualized to the needs of the city by means of faculty, staff, tuition, location, and class schedule. This unique program had served as a model for similar programs in Minneapolis; Philadelphia; Los Angeles; and Portland, Oregon; and in international cities such as Quito, Ecuador; and Lagos, Nigeria. CUME has also served in a support capacity by providing resources, ministerial fellowship, and stimulation for cross-denominational endeavors in evangelism and church growth.

Master of Divinity in Urban Ministry

Master of Divinity with a concentration in Urban Church Ministry prepares nearly 40% students to serve in ministry. Through a wide array of courses with a unique urban emphasis, this degree provide the skills and foundation to effectively proclaim God’s redeeming work in the context of the city. CUME’s student body is made up of a diverse group of people from different ethnicities, countries, denominations and phases of life.

With the cooperation and support of ministers, churches and agencies (especially the Emmanuel Gospel Center) in inner-city and working-class sections of Boston, this concentration creates a close relationship between Mentored Ministry in the city and academic training. Seminary courses on Urban Ministry are offered directly in the city and will required students to travel if they are not living in Boston. Students are encouraged to spend their second year in the city while completing their Urban Ministry Track courses, especially if they have never lived in an urban context prior to seminary.

Required Core Requirements

Biblical Studies (10 Courses)

Hebrew I, Hebrew II, Theology of the Pentateuch OR Intro to the Old Testament, Hebrew Exegesis Course, Old Testament Prophetical Books OR Old Testament Poetical Books, Basic Greek I, Basic Greek II, Interpreting the New Testament, New Testament Narrative Book Exegesis and New Testament Epistle Exegesis.

Christian Thought (7 Courses)

Systematic Theology I, II and III, The Church to the Reformation OR equivalent, The Church Since the Reformation OR equivalent, Social Ethics course and World Mission course.

Ministry of the Church (8 Courses)

Preaching: Principles & Practices in Preparing Relevant Biblical Sermons, Preaching for Modern Listeners, Inner City Ministry I and II, Church and Community, Educational Ministries course, Pastoral Counseling for Urban Ministry and Research and Writing in Urban Theological Studies.

Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University is a Seminary School and Theological Seminary of The Wesleyan Church.

After years of prayer and dialogue between Indiana Wesleyan University leaders and Wesleyan Church officials, in April 2009 the IWU Board of Trustees voted to create a new seminary to house the new Master of Divinity and existing Master of Arts in Ministry degrees.

The first class of 30 Master of Divinity students started in August 2009. This group joined approximately 170 Master of Arts in Ministry students. Both degrees are offered in online and onsite formats. Multiple factors converged to turn this dream into a reality.

First, IWU’s parent denomination, The Wesleyan Church, has never had its own official seminary. Currently, 15 percent of Wesleyan ministers are seminary trained. The new Wesley Seminary provides the accessibility and affordability to increase that percentage dramatically.

Second, IWU has a healthy infrastructure that can support this venture. Seminaries typically struggle financially, but IWU possesses the resources to effectively undergird this initiative.

Third, IWU has a proven track record of successfully delivering innovative adult education programs. In a little more than two decades, IWU’s adult education programs have grown to more than 12,000 students. The same accessible, affordable and practical model of education is employed by Wesley Seminary to create a student-centered approach to busy working ministers.

Fourth, there is a growing awareness in the broader seminary world that ministerial education needs to be done in a new way. It is becoming increasingly difficult for ministers and their families to pick up and move to a seminary for three or four years, followed by another move upon graduation. The new Wesley Seminary model allows ministers to stay in their current ministry setting while attending seminary online or on-campus one day a week. Research also suggests that traditional seminaries are struggling to prepare ministers for practical ministry. The combination of these personal and professional considerations led to the birth of the new Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University.